Drape and curtain retainer and balancer device



Nov. 19, 1957 J. H. SCHLESINGER 2,813,581

DRAPE AND CURTAIN RETAINER AND BAIL-ANGER DEVICE Filed Dec. 10. 1954 INVENTOR, JEEP/l M .iwzamvae- Attorner,

ates

DRAPE AND CURTAIN RETAINER AND BALANCER DEVICE The present invention relates to a device for use with drapes and curtains and more particularly to a drape retainer and balancer. My novel and improved device is used instead of a tie-back. Wherever I speak of drapes herein, curtains and the like shall also be deemed included.

As a matter of example, my present device is adapted for use with a drape, one side edge of which is to hang substantially vertical while its other side edge, a distance down from the top, is to be maintained inward towards said vertical edge and arranged with draped folds which may incline straight or curved towards such vertical edge to where they are supported or maintained by means therefor included in my improved device. Such folds may even be in a drooping formation if desired, or along the slant, however fashion or decor may dictate.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved device which will hold a drape in such desired format and yet all of the device shall be carried solely on the drape and in no manner nailed, hooked or otherwise secured or mounted to the window or door frame adorned or to any other outside or adjacent support.

Since my improved and novel device is to be carried solely by the drape, it is evident that the gathered folds must not only be supported and maintained, but that means must be provided to relieve stresses caused in the drape body so that the desired drape format could be accomplished to have smooth flowing lines without distortion in order to have the mentioned vertically disposed side edge.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved device of the character described, which will properly balance the drape in order to attain the format desired without recourse to support by any external structure.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved drape retainer and balancer device of the kind set forth, which affords the proper hanging of the drape and permits adjustment to effect such result.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a device of the nature mentioned, of novel and improved construction, which is reasonably cheap to manufacture, easy to use, which lends itself to any desired manner of decoration and which is eflicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

In essence, my improved device comprises a means serving as the beam of a balance, a means to be carried on the drape, serving as the fulcrum for such beam, a retainer or supporting means for the drape folds, which may be in the form for instance of a bight or hook to straddle a side edge portion of the drape body or other holding means as a clamp if desired. Preferably the drape material is movable through such retainer means to facilitate adding to fold lengths and effecting dropping folds if desired and for adjusting the drape to aid in effecting the vertical hang of the undraped side edge mentioned. There is also a balancing counterweight means atent 2,813,581 Patented Nov. 19, 1957 2 to be hung on the beam. This may be any suitable weighted mass. The fulcrum, beam and weight means may be at either side of the drape, meaning in front or in back thereof. Although I have shown same herein in back of the drape, as mentioned it is not mandatory.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my novel and improved drape retainer and balancer device which embodies the teachings of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a book which may be pinned onto the drape and serve as the fulcrum means for the beam member of this device.

Fig. 3 shows the front view of a modified construction for the article shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front view of another modified form thereof.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a window with its drape equipped with my novel and improved drape retainer and balancer device. The drape is shown in the shape it assumes with both sides drawn in after the device is mounted thereon but before adjustments are made to fashion the drape to the style shown in Fig. 7 and to have its left side edge hang vertical.

Fig. 7 is a transformation of the drape style shown in Fig. 6 to the style where one side edge line becomes vertical, and it is so maintained by my present device. I have chosen to show the drape here with drooping folds. Such folds may of course, be without droopes.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side view of Fig. 7, as seen in the direction of the arrow D indicated in Fig. 7.

In the drawings, I have shown the member 15 made of wire, bent to form a beam 16 of two strands on which is a slide 17 for the weight 14. Extending from one end of said beam means is a bight or hook structure 18 for supporting and maintaining the drape folds 19 of the hanging drape 20. The beam is provided with an eye 21 so that it may be pivotally mounted on the hook which serves as the fulcrum means therefore. This eye is of course, between said bight and the weight 14 on the beam means. The fulcrum hook 22 shown, is made of wire and is bent to present the downward pins 23 which mount the fulcrum means 24 in proper manner onto the back of the drape, and illustrates one example of providing such fulcrum. It is practical to make the beam 16, its eye 21 and the hook or bight and bight arm 18 of a single piece of wire whose strands 25 are parallel to serve as the track for the slide 17 which may also be of wire formed as shown and provided with a hook or eye 17 for the weight 14 to depend from. The extension 18 extends arm-like on the front of the drape 20, is in contact with and frictionally holds the folds of the drape against the beam 16. Such arm 18' may be fabric-covered or otherwise decorated as for instance with the ornament 26. End 27 may be spot welded to the beam structure and crimps 28 may be provided to serve as stops for the slide 17.

The fulcrum means 24 is attached preferably on the back surface of the drape 20, at a position inward of the vertically-intended side edge 20', so that when member 15 is mounted, the latter should be covered by the drape, be near to such edge in the installation illustrated and extend not beyond such drape edge. The drape 20 of course, hangs initially in rectangular format. It is pinched in hand and slid between the beam 16 and the arm 18' and moved along within the retaining means, clamp or bight 18. Minus the weight 14, member 15 is mounted on the hook of the fulcrum means 24. Such condition is shown in Fig. 6. Now a suitable weight 14 is set on book 17' to obtain an approximate balance for the distribution of the folds which are now efiected to any desired formation. After the drape is arranged in the form desired as to its folds, the left edge 20' in most instances will be as yet bent. The counter-balancing is theneifected byeither changingthe weight on.hook-17' or by -moving the slide 17. Adjustment ismade of the foldsthrough the. bight 18, either up" or down. and the counterweight effect altered to suit until drape edge 20' hangs vertical. Dimensions and weight are chosen to suit so that the edge line 20 is used as an indicator for balancing. purposes to create the vertical POSItlOHIOf such edge.

As shown in the modified embodiments illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 respectively, there may be a fixed hook, as 33 or 33 for different or plural weights, only one of which is shown at.34 in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, the beam'35 and its related bight and extending arm indicated generally by the numeral 36, are formed from a single piece of strip metal. Such strip material having width which is appreciable, will oifer good surface support and prevent the drape folds from bending towards the window. In order to attain this advantage with the member of Fig. 3, the loop 21' is made tall so that arm member 18' extend across it; the beam 25 being only a single wire strand.

It is evident that the balance required can be accomplished by movement of the weight 14 along the beam as. in Fig. 1, or by changing the weight at a fixed point on the beam, as is done in either of the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4- respectively.

Then again, the arm 18 of Fig. 1, may be deemed part ofthe beam 16 and that the counter-balancing weight may be the ornament 26 because said ornament is to one side of the fulcrum while the retaining means 18 is to the other side'of the fulcrum. In such instance, the weight 14 is of course dispensed with.

Also, it is easily evident to those versed in the art, that my present drape retainer and balancing device may be so ornamented that the fulcrum is positioned at the front of the drape 20 and arm 18' is in back. Such manner of use is possible regardless of ornamentation. It is also to be noted that where a set of drapes are to be equipped with the device taught herein, one such device would have to be right hand and the other left hand.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein shall be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a single hanging drape or curtain panel arranged with folds along one side edge thereof which folds at a selected region between top and bottom of such panel are to be maintained towards the second side edge of such panel, of a retainer and balancer device comprising a fulcrum means carried on the panel between the side edges and away from the folds of said panel whereby the pivotal axis offered thereby is substantially horizontal and is at one surface of such panel, means serving as the beam of a balance pivotally mounted intermediate its ends onto said fulcrum means whereby said beam is swingable on such. axis; said beam to one side of said axis, extending towards said folds, and to the other side of said axis, towards the second edge of the panel, means on said beam adjacent the folds, holding such folds at such region against movement away from said second edge of the panel and a weight carried on the beam to serve substantially as a counterbalance; said axis being between said fold-holding means and the weight.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the weight is movably carried on the beam and is shiftable towards and away from said axis.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the fulcrum'means is removably carried on the panel.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the means on the beam holding the folds of the panel against the mentioned movement, permits free manual sliding movement of the folds with respect to itself.

5. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the means on the beam holding the folds of the panel against the mentioned movement is a bight which straddles the folds; said folds being free to fall through said bight.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the means on the beam holding the folds of the panel against the mentioned movement is a bight which straddles the folds and is infrictional engagement with a plurality of folds.

7. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the means on the beam holding the folds of the panel against they mentioned movement, straddles the folds and is in frictional engagement with a plurality of folds.

8. The combinationas defined in claim 1, wherein the beam includes a part which extends upwardly therefrom and wherein the means on the beam holding the folds of the panel against the mentioned movement, straddles the folds of the panel and extends adjacent the other surface of the panel across said upwardly extending part.

9. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the means on the beam holding the folds of the panel against the mentioned movement, straddles the folds of the panel and extends adjacent the other surface of the panel beyond the axis.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9, wherein that portion of the said means which straddles the folds of the panel is below the horizontal plane passing through the axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

